Web supply mechanism for printing machines



Sept. 6, 1938. A. J. HORTON WEB SUPPLY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINESFiled Oct. 11, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 6, 1938.

A. J. HORTON 2,129,618

Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WEB SUPPLY MECHANISMFOR PRINTING MACHINES Albert J. Horton, White Plains, N. Y., assignor toR. Hoe & 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New YorkApplication October 11, '1935, Serial No. 94,485

19 Claims.

This invention relates to a web supply mechanism for a machine operatingupon a web wherein provision is made for changing the web feed from aspent roll to a full roll by joining the web .of one to the web of theother without decelerat-- should be constant for all diameters of rolls,when the replacement mechanism is in a preparatory position to make thejoin, in order to provide a constant distance to be traversed by the webdeflecting or pasting brush commonly used to deflect the running webtoward, and press it against the web of the replacement roll, thusinsuring uniform operation in all instances, and that a proper join bemade. This invention contem plates the obtainment of this desideratum byproviding mechanism whereby the rotation of the roll carrier or reel ispositively stopped at a predetermined point in its roll positioningmovements, and an initial web deflector and a pasting brush are alloweda variable initial movement toward the replacement roll tocompensate-for differences in diameters of such rolls.

One object of this invention is to provide automatically operable meansto interrupt the roll positioning movement of a roll carrier or reel ata determined point for all diameters of rolls, and to vary thepreparatory web joining position of the web deflecting and severingmeans, whereby the running web and the replacement roll will be spacedapart the desired amount regardless of the diameter of the roll.

Another object is to provide a mechanism opa variably positionable stop,operable to limit the movement of said web deflecting mechanism intopre-joining' position.

It is alsoan object of the invention to provide a running webpositioning'device for a web supply mechanism, of generally improvedconstruction, whereby the device will be simple, durable and inexpensivein construction, as well as convenient, practical, serviceable andeillcient in its With the foregoing and other objects in view,

which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides inthe combination and arrangement of parts, and in the details ofconstruction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood thatvarious changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departingfrom the spirit of the invention,

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a web supply and joiningmechanism, in prejoin position, and showing a web deflector positioncontrolling mechanism, embodying the features of this invention;

Figure 2 is a face elevational view of the'mechanism controlling theposition of the web joining mechanism, looking in the direction ofarrows 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an illustration of a somewhat modifled formof the mechanism;

Figure 4 illustrates a modified form of the mechanism somewhat similarto that shown in Figure 1;

Figure'5 illustrates another form of such mechanism; and

Figure 6 illustrates still another form.

The web supply and joining mechanism illustrated in Figures 1 and 2includes a web roll supporting reel I! mounted on a suitable shaftjournaled in and between suitable supports l2,

and has arms l3, l4 and I5 extending radially therefrom, upon which webrolls are rotatably supported in accordance with the present generalpractice. In this instance the arm l3 supports an expiring web roll l6,the running web ll of which, is shown directed toward and into a machineadapted to operate upon a web, such as a printing machine (not shown),and the arm I! supports a replacement roll l8, having a web end withadhesive applied thereon, positioned to have its web joined to therunning web II. It will be understood that, as is usual, the reel II isrotated by suitable means, such as an electric motor (not shown), in thedirection indicated by the arrow in Figure 1, to position the web rollsinto the positions illustrated, the arm l5 being, in this instance,positioned to receive another replacement roll l9 when the same isrequired.

When the replacement roll I8 is disposed in the position shown, that is,inthe web joining position, it is rotated, before the join is made, tobring it up to the speed of the running web, by

suitable means, herein constituted by the driven belt 2|, which engagesthe roll |3 upon an upper portion of the peripheral surface thereof.I'he belt 2| is guided about pulleys 22, 23, 24 and tensioned by aspring 25 acting upon the belt 2| through a lever 23 and the pulley 24.The pulley 22 is supported upon the shaft 21 journaled in the brackets23, which are disposed one at either side of the machine, and secured toan adjacent machine frame member 23.

A web severing device is provided, which consists of a pair of swingablymounted arms, one of which is shown at 3 I, each pivotally mounted on asupporting bracket 32, also secured to the frame portion 23, and mayhave as herein shown, an automatically operable web severing blade 33,with its holder 34 mounted upon theh lower ends. The holder 34constitutes an initial or first web deflector adapted to be moved withthe blade 33 into a web engaging and preparatory web joining position asillustrated, and during such movement to engage the running web I! toinitially deflect and to position it relatively to the replacement rollfor the subsequent web joining operation. A spring 33 is provided tomaintain the arms 3| both in the position shown and in the inoperativeposition which is indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1.

A second web deflecting member, herein constituted by a pasting brush35, is, mounted on a pair of arms 35, which are also swingably mountedupon the brackets 32, to be swung toward the replacement roll l8, tojoin the webs. The arms 33 and the arms 3| are releasably held togetherby a catch'member 31, which is automatically released to permit webjoining movement of arm 33 from the preparatory position illustrated, bymeans of an electrically operated catch release device 33. It will beunderstood that the arms 3| and 36 are initially moved in unison intothe preparatory position illustrated, by manual or other suitable means,after the replacement roll is brought to web splicing position, and thatthe arm 36, when released by the catch 31, may be further moved manuallyor by the spring 33, to deflect the web I! toward and into contact withroll |3 at the moment the adhesive covered end of the web, on thisroil',is in position to be joined to the web 11.

Herein the spring 33 is shown connected to the arm 35 and through thecatch member 31 acts on the arms 3| as above described.

The rotation of reel relatively to the supports |2 may be accomplishedby electrically operated means (not shown), that is stopped by a switchmechanism 33 conveniently mounted upon the support II, in position to beoperated by engagement of a finger 4|, with one of the lugs 42,positioned on a collar on the shaft of the reel II. It will beunderstood that the rotation of reel II is thus stopped to dispose thereplacement roll l3, in all instances, at the same position.

In similar mechanisms used heretofore, it has been the practice toprovide a flxed stop for the arm 3|, to limit its movement toward thereplacementroll, and when the replacement rolls have varied in diameter,the variable space bea tween the surface of the same and the runningalways locates the axis of replacement roll II in the same position, anda mechanism is provided devices at the proper distance from the axis ofthe roll l3 and thus controls the space between the surface of this rolland the running web i'l, so as to compensate for variation in rolldiameters.

One form of mechanism; providing a variable stop for the web deflectingand cutting mechanism, is herein shown in Figures 1 and 2 as includingslidable wedge shaped stop members 45, disposed in the path of studs 43,secured to the arms 3| of the web deflecting and severing device. Thestop members 45 are slidably supported on extensions 43 of the brackets23, so as to present beveled surfaces 41 in various positions, to theend of the studs 43, and thus vary the swinging movement of arms 3|toward the replacement roll I3. One surface of each of the stop members45 is provided with rack teeth 43, which are in mesh with the teeth of agear segment pivoted to the extension 43, by being secured upon a'shaft,52 iournaled in said extension. A short lever 53 is secured upon theshaft 52, and is connected to another short lever 54, by a link 55. Thelever 54 is secured upon a shaft 56 which extends between and isJournaled in brackets 23. An arm i'l, secured to the shaft 55, supportsa short shaft 53, upon which is rotatably mounted a roller or follower53, herein shown disposed to engage and ride on the inner surface of thebelt 2|, opposite its contact with the surface of the roll l3 and,preferably, with its axis approximately in alignment with the axes ofthe reel II and the roll l3 when the latter is in the web joiningposition. A spring 53 is provided to be made, to have the follower 53engage the roll 5 I3 directly upon its surface, instead of the belt 2|,if desired, but the arrangement herein shown is most convenient inassociation with the particular form of web supply mechanism selectedfor illustrating the application of the same.

The operation of the above described automatically operating stopmechanism results in the positioning of the web deflecting and cuttingdevice, as pointed out above. Difference in diameter of rolls l3 variesthe position of the roller 53 and thus rocks the arm 51, and through theshaft 53 rocks the lever 54. Through the link 55, the lever 53, and theshaft 52, the gear segment 5| is caused to rock, and the member isslidably moved to dispose its beveled surface 41 in position to have apoint thereon engaged by the stud 43, and thus variably limit theswinging movement permitted the arm 3|, and hence Position the webdeflecting and cutting device insuch relation to the roll l3 that thespace between the surface of this roll and the running web is alwayssubstantially the same.'

From the above it will be obvious that should the roll l3 be of smallerdiameter than the one illustrated, the member 45 will be lowered thuspermitting thearm 3| to swing clooer to theaxis of the roll l3 andvthearm 14, and should the roll |3 be of larger diameter than tint shown,the arm will be stopped at a position farther from theaxis of the rolll3 and the arm i4, thus providing for a constant and uniform amount ofmovement of initial web deflector or holder 34 and the brush 35 towardthe roll l3 when it is moved preparatory to deflecting the web IT intocontact with the roll. The combination, the gear segment 5| and the rackteeth 43 on member 45 provide mechanism for the above purpose wherebypressure applied on the arm 3| will not be transmitted back through theseveral levers and associated parts, to the roller 59 and hence to theroll l8.

In the form of mechanism shown in Figure 3 the gear segment 5| and themember 48 are omitted and a swingable stop member 8| is pro vided. Themember 8| is pivotally secured at 82, to the bracket 68, upon which theweb deflecting and severing device. and the pasting brush 65 arepivotally supported. A lug 88 formed on the stop member 8| is moved bythe follower 59 through lever 54 and link 55, to a position to beengaged by a lug 81 extending from the arm 88 ofthe web deflecting andsevering device to limit the movement thereof.

Variation in the position of the member 6| varies the movement permittedto arm 58 and is controlled by differences in the diameter of rolls 8. Aspring 68 maintains the follower 59 in operative engagement with thebelt 2|. The reel is stopped in a predetermined position by operation ofthe rotation controlling switch 89 as in.

the previously described form shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the webdeflecting brush 65 and the arm 68 are likewise joinedtogether by thecatch 31, releasable at the proper time to permit deflection of therunning web IT of the expiring web roll l5, by the electrically operablemeans 38.

In the mechanism shown in Figure 4 the stop member 1| is slidablymounted upon an extension I2 of a belt roll supporting bracket 13. Theroller or follower 59, in this instance, slides the member through alever 14, a shaft 15, a lever 16 and a link 11. A spring 18 maintainsthe follower 59 in engagement withthe belt and through it, with the rolll8. Differences in the diameter of rolls 8 will slide the stop membercausing variations in the movements of arm 3|, of the web deflecting andsevering device, due to the cooperation between the stud 46 and abeveled surface 19 of the member II.

In the form shown in Figure 5, the follower 59, through a lever 8|, anda shaft 82, swings a lever 83 to vary the position of a stop member 84,formed thereon, relatively to an arm 85, extending from the arm 3| ofthe web deflecting and severing device. The arm 85 has a lug 88, formedupon its end for engagement with a beveled surface 81, of the stopmember 84. Swinging movement of the stop member 84 by the follower 59,positions the surface 8'! of the member 84, to limit the movement of theweb deflecting and severing device toward roll l8. A spring 88 maintainsthe follower 59 in position to be moved by diifer ences in diameter ofrolls l8.

In Figure 6, is illustrated a form of mechanism wherein the stop memberis in the form of a stud 9| extending outwardly from a slide 99, whichis mounted upon the bracket 82 and is slidable thereon in the path of anextension 94 of the arm 3|, of the web deflecting and severing device. Abeveled surface 95,. formed on the extension 94, cooperates with thestud 9| to limit the movement of the web deflecting-and severing devicetoward roll l8. The stud 9| ,is moved by the follower 59, through alever 95, a shaft 91, and a lever 98. A spring 99 maintains the follower59 in engagement with belt 2|, to be moved by differences in thediameter of the rolls H, to

.dispose the stud 9| in the proper position.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departingi'rom the spirit or essential attributesthereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodimentsbeconsidered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive,reference being had to the claims rather than to the foregoingdescription to indicate the scope of the inven-' 'tion.

What I claim is:

1. In a web supply mechanism for a machine operating upon a web, arotatable reel for moving a replacementroll into web joining positionand, to dispose the replacement roll in a predetermined position, webjoining mechanism having an initial web deflecting member adapted todeflect a running web toward the replacement roll, and means to controlthe web deflecting action of said member and actuated by the replacementroll to insure the required amount of web deflection to position the weba determined dis--' tance from said roll.

3. In combination in a web supply mechanism, means toposition areplacement roll adjacent a web running from an expiring web roll, meansto I initially deflect the running web toward the replacement roll, andcontrol means to limit the amount of deflecting movement of saiddeflecting means to insure substantially the same spacing between thereplacement roll and the adjacent running. web, when replacement rollsof different diameters are used.

4. In a web supply mechanism, means to position a replacement rolladjacent the running web of an expiring web roll, web deflecting andsevering means movable into engagement with the l running web, means torotate the replacement roll, including a driven belt in contact with thesurface of the roll, means to vary the web engaging position of said webdeflecting and severing means, and means disposed opposite the point ofcontact of said driven belt with the replacement roll, and in contactwith said belt to actuate said position varying means.

5. In a web supply mechanism, rotatably mounted means to position areplacement roll adjacent the running web of an expiring web roll, meansto rotatably support a replacement roll on said first means, webdeflecting and severing means movable into engagement with the runningweb, means to vary the web engaging position of said web deflecting andsevering means, and means positioned in alignment with the axis of saidreplacement roll positioning means and said replacement roll supportingmeans, to actuate said position varying means.

6. In a web supply mechanism, a device for supporting and positioning areplacement roll adjacent the running web of an expiring web roll, a webdeflecting and severing device movable into engagement with the runningweb, and mechanism to vary the web engaging position of said webdeflecting and severing device, includdevice, through said positionvarying mechanism to the replacement roll.

'7. In combination, means to dispose a replacement roll in positionadjacent a running web, a movable member for supporting a device.adapted to join a running web to the web of the replacement roll,mechanism including a swingable member, a stop member movable by saidswingable member into the path of the movement of said movablesupporting member, means operable by variations in the diameter of thereplacement roll to move said swingable member, and means on saidmovable supporting member engageable with said stop member.

8. In a web supply mechanism for a machine operating upon a web,mechanism for disposing a replacement roll in a determined web joiningposition, web deflecting means mounted for movement toward thereplacement roll, and cooperating means including a member movable bythe replacement roll and a member movable with said web deflectingmeans, to variably limit the movement of said web deflecting meanstowardsaid replacement roll. i

9. In a web supply mechanism, means for supporting a web roll from whicha web is running freely to a machine, means for supporting a replacementweb roll near the web, a web splicing mechanism movable to guide the webat a desired distance from the replacement roll and closer than it runsfreely, and means governed by the radial dimension of the replacementroll to determine the position to which the splicing mechanism is moved.

l0. Ina web supply mechanism, a rotatable support for a replacement webroll adapted to move the replacement roll toward a web running freelyfrom an expiring web roll, and to locate the axis of the replacementroll at a predetermined position, a web splicing mechanism movable toguide the running web at a desired dis-. tance from the replacement rolland closer than it runs freely, and means responsive to the radius ofthe replacement roll to determine the position to which the web splicingmechanism is moved.

11. In a web supply mechanism, means for supporting a web roll fromwhich a web is running freely to a machine, means for supporting areplacement roll near the web, a web splicing mechanism movable to guidethe web at a desired distance from the replacement roll and closer thanit runs freely, a pivoted member biased toward the axis m: thereplacement roll.

and variably positioned in conformity with the radius of the replacementroll, when said replacement roll is moved into web joining position, and

means controlledby the pivoted member to deterthe axis of thereplacement roll and variably positioned in conformity with the radiusof the replacement roll when said replacement roll is moved into webjoining position, and means controlled by the pivoted member todetermine the position to which the-web splicing mechanism is moved.

13. In a web supply mechanism, means to dispose a replacement roll withits axis in a determined position, a first movable means to initiallydeflect a running web to a position adjacent to and spaced from theperiphery of the replacement roll, a second movable means to deflect theweb into engagement with the roll, said second movable means beingconnected to said first movable means to be initially moved therewithand being releasable therefrom for further movement, and means to varythe amount of movement of the initial web deflecting means to insuresubstantially equal spacing between the running web and the peripheriesof replacement rolls of different diameters whereby in all instances theamount of movement of said second web deflecting means will be constant.

14. In a web supply mechanism, means to dispose a replacement roll withits axis in a determined position, movable means to deflect a runningweb to a position adjacent to and spaced from the periphery of thereplacement roll, and means actuated by the replacement roll to controlthe amount of movement of said web deflecting means to insuresubstantially equal spacing between the running web and the peripheriesof replacement rolls of diiferent diameters.

15. In a web supply mechanism, means to support a replacement roll with-its axis in a determined position, movable means to deflect a runningweb toward the periphery of the replacement roll, and means cooperatingwith the deflecting means and variably positioned automatically independence on the diameter of the replacement roll, to determine theamount of deflection of the running web by the deflecting means.

16. In a web supply mechanism, means to support one of a plurality ofreplacement rolls varying in diameter, with its axis in a determinedposition, movable means to deflect a running web toward the periphery ofthe replacement roll, and means positioned in accordance with thediameter of and by the replacement roll, to vary the web deflectingmovement of the web deflecting means.

17. In a web vsupply mechanism, a rotatable support adapted to positiona replacement roll adjacent a running web of an expiring web roll, aninitial web deflecting member movable into engagement with the runningweb to deflect the same toward the replacement roll, and a stoppositioned to be engaged by said deflecting member when it. is moved, tolimit the movement thereof, said stop being adjustable in accordancewith the diameter of the replacement roll to vary the position of saidweb with respect to the roll when the web is deflected by the webdeflecting member.

18. In a web supply mechanism arranged to feed webs from rolls that mayvary substantially in diametena reel adapted to support a plurality ofweb replacement rolls and to dispose the rolls successively in apredetermined position in respect to a running web, a movable parthaving a web engaging position and adapted to engage the running web anddeflect it toward the positioned replacement roll, a stop memberpositioned to be engaged by said part when it is moved, and mechanisminfluenced by the diameter of the replacement roll to position the stopmember to insure sufficient deflection of the running web by the webengaging portion of said part when it is moved, to space the web adetermined amount from the replacement roll.

19. In a web supply mechanism, a reel operable to position a replacementroll in a predetermined position, a first swingable arm having a webengaging member adjacent its free end, a

second swingable arm having a; web engaging member adjacent it's freeend, a stop member positioned to be engaged by one of said swingablearms to limit its swinging movement toward the replacement roll on saidreel, and a 10 lever arm influenced by the diameter of the replacementroll to position said stop member to engage and stop the swingingmovement of the respective arm when the web engaging member on this armis in a desired spaced relation with respect to the replacement roll, toinsure the same amount of further swinging movement of the arm notengaged by said stop toward the replacement roll when replacement rollsof different diameters are mounted on said reel.

ALBERT J. HORTON.

